Damian Walshe-Howling: the next Cleo
Bachelor of the Year?
Now in its 22nd year, the battle for the country's hottest single guy will be fought out amongst names including Angus McLaren, Luke Jacobz, Todd Lasance, Axle Whitehead, Lawrence Leung, Rhys Uhlich, James Sorensen, Channel [V] presenter Danny Clayton, choreographer Nacho Pop, Bondi Rescue's Tom Bunting, former Seven sports presenter Ben Damon and pay TV presenters Charlie Albone and Buck Palmer.
Also in contention are Daimon Downey from Sneaky Sound System, NRL players Joel Clinton and Ben Te'o from the Brisbane Broncos, Carlton AFL footballer Chris Johnson, Sydney Swans' Matthew Laidlaw, and Queensland cricketer Scott Brant.
Cleo editor-in-chief Sarah Oakes says: "Each year brings so many interesting men from around the country. It was a tough job sorting through the hundreds of applications and it's going to be even tougher finding our winner this year. We have an eclectic list of nominees with a variety of backgrounds and occupations."
Actor Damian Walshe-Howling is also on the shortlist.
Walshe-Howling had a very busy 2008 with Crash Investigation Unit and of course, Underbelly, for which he won an AFI Award as Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama. The buzz has no doubt helped him make the list for this year's bachelor shortlist. As Walshe-Howling well knows, buzz is very cyclical in the Australian industry. According to magazines in the 1990s he was hot years ago when he played Constable Adam Cooper in Blue Heelers.
In more recent years, he has performed with the Bell Shakespeare Company and turned his attention to film-making. He wrote and directed the short "The Bloody Sweet Hit".
If he happens to win the title it could mean more casting opportunities, invites to premieres and glossy mag stories. Last year's winner, Jason Dundas from Getaway, doesn't seem to have given up his day job.
And with an AFI under his most-eligible belt, hopefully Walshe-Howling won't either.
If you can't get enough of Damian Walshe-Howling, check out his video interviews with TV.com:
• Damian Walshe-Howling talks about playing Andrew "Benji" Veniaman on Underbelly
• Damian Walshe-Howling talks about the sex scenes in Underbelly.
• Damian Walshe-Howling talks about the highlights of his career
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